Federal money to aid tree replanting

BY MELISSA MCKEON MMCKEON@HOLDENLANDMARK.COM

Thursday

Sep 17, 2009 at 12:01 AM

Stimulus funds aren't just going to banks - some of those dollars are headed this way.

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation announced last week that $4.5 million in federal funds would be used to replant trees in the area devastated by the Asian Longhorned Beetle, which includes 66 square miles in Worcester, Holden, West Boylston and Shrewsbury.

The money is part of the $89 million the U.S. Department of Agriculture is spending on nearly 80 forest health protection projects in the U.S.

DCR will be hiring 20 personnel to negotiate with nurseries and direct the replanting of trees on private and public property that were removed because of beetle infestation.

More than 25,000 trees have been removed; 32 of them in Holden, along the 100 block of Shrewsbury Street and the adjacent neighborhoods. No new infestations have been detected since June.

"I'm very pleased that Central Massachusetts will be receiving such a significant amount of federal stimulus funding for this important issue. The ALB infestation in our community has been devastating. The federal government must continue to be a strong partner in the eradication effort. Without a serious, sustained program to get rid of this awful bug, the infestation could threaten the entire Northeastern hardwood forest. This is an excellent use of stimulus funding," said Congressman James McGovern.

Holden may lose still more trees - those removed this spring were found to be infested after ice storm cleanup crews noticed wood with beetle damage. Crews inspected only one area one-eighth of a mile around the initial find and located 32 trees believed to be infested. Those trees were removed. There has been no further investigation in Holden to date. Federal and DCR crews are still surveying in Worcester and West Boylston.

DCR said it hopes to begin the replanting effort this fall. The trees will be replaced with species not vulnerable to the Asian Longhorned Beetle.